25 June 2015

Hi Folks,MAC here, wishing you a lovely day! Mum says I am at times naughty: Hey, I thought that little peep squeak in the ball (make that plurial, I go through a lot of balls!) was to be removed IMMEDIATELY! Chiche!She trusts me though enough to keep the house safe whilst she is away; I keep an eye on Dad whilst he is a bachelor and tending his garden (when he is not flying his simulator)...I sunbathe, he works...Maira, being a cat (and a girl!) just roams around the house and gives us 'those' looks...

We get along just fine, no worries. Just take a look at nap time here (I won't share a photo of Dad snoring in his chair though...He might say no treats after that little jest!)

See how relaxed we are?

How could you ever describe us as being naughty? Whom? Us? NEVER! We are just angels in furry coats!There are of course some amongst us, canine and feline friends around the world, whom one could perhaps describe as being just a tad naughty...

(Photo source HERE)Those sweet looks might fool you though so read the whole story at DOWN BY THE SEA. No matter, we are loved and we know it well!

Mum is writing about us from faraway (under the curious scrutiny from another friend) but we keep always in touch.

17 June 2015

The first thing you notice when you have been gone a long time from Home is that you changed just as much as everything else has...Then again, it is perhaps a good thing.What truly matters is the incredible feeling you experience knowing you belong! Yes, you developed a certain accent after all those years and adopted new customs but all in all, it is not a bad thing to be different...You have become YOU!Dare to be different but always graceful and kind to others!Note to readers: Thank you for the sweet comments! With sporadic Internet service and Google questioning the authenticity of an account used on a foreign device, I find myself late in posting. This is my first post on a Kindle...Bear with me please!

12 June 2015

Self-esteem is the real magic wand that can form a child’s future. A child’s self-esteem affects every area of her existence, from friends she chooses, to how well she does academically in school, to what kind of job she gets, to even the person she chooses to marry.

09 June 2015

A slightly longer stay for me overseas this time (no, this is not the way I pack, believe me!) and counting my blessings for this wonderful grace!I will keep in touch with blogging friends and post as often as possible of course (Is blogging addictive?) providing the sporadic Internet service...In the meantime, I thought to leave you with a couple of inspiring quotes...

08 June 2015

SYNOPSIS:Sarah, an aspiring filmmaker meets the man of her dreams. Charming, handsome, and wealthy, Reece becomes her world. As their story unfolds, Sarah is taken on a journey of heartbreak and forgiveness, exploring the meaning of her relationships both past and present.My thoughts:In this DOVE approved film Sarah is working hard to make her way in the Big Apple and is having a lot of fun doing so. Behind the big smile and fun loving attitude there is also pain: As a little girl she saw her Dad leave their home, never to come back and she is hurting still.When she meets Reese and falls in love, she is so happy she does not see the warning signs that not all that glitters is gold.The Father's Love is the story of a broken heart and finding a shoulder to lean on when things are getting tough, that of God.I cannot say I enjoyed the movie as entertainment yet I found the forgiveness ending comforting. Finally the actors tried hard but Sarah's journey of self discovery of real love and dignity was far too long for me.

I give it 3 stars!

Disclaimer:I received a copy of the DVD courtesy of EDIFY MEDIA Inc. as part of the series promotion.I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

07 June 2015

Photo above: Artists of the Australian Ballet rehearse for the 'The Dream' at the Arts Centre in Melbourne, Australia, June 3, 2015. (Photo source EPA/JULIAN SMITH)

Performed for the first time in 40 years, 'The Dream' is a triple bill of works by 20th century choreographer Frederick Ashton.

The performance can be seen from June 04 to 13 at the Arts Centre of Melbourne. I only wish!Those costumes!!

From the Australian Ballet site:"Step into faraway woodlands in Ashton’s charming take on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, guaranteed to bring the house down with a hilarious tangled romance, dazzling dancing and the playful music of Felix Mendelssohn."One of my favourite of Shakespeare's works, A Midsummer Night's Dream is just perfect for this warm evening! Is it really 86 degrees F??

06 June 2015

In the wee morning on 6 June 1944, 156,000 Allied soldiers stormed a handful of beaches along the coast of Normandy, France. Choppy seas and German resistance prevented them from fully meeting their objectives on that memorable day, yet they were able to gain a crucial foothold and by the end of August, Paris had regained its freedom and Belgium, in September 1944. The Netherlands soon followed albeit the west of that country remained under German occupation suffering from a famine at the end of 1944 called 'Hunger Winter'.

(From Amazon)Elizabeth Thatcher (Krakow) is an independent, strong-willed teacher who has foregone the life of the big city and found a job, a home (and romance with a handsome Mountie named Jack) in the small frontier town of Coal Valley. But when she learns that her mother has taken ill, she returns to Hamilton, her hometown, with Jack as her escort. Once in the comparably opulent Hamilton, Elizabeth and Jack are confounded by Jack’s ne’er-do-well brother and Elizabeth’s former suitor, Charles Kensington. But it is Elizabeth’s father, William, who drives a wedge between them when he suggests to Jack that Charles would be a better match for his well-bred daughter.My thoughts:Inspired by Janette Oke's novels about a well bred city born teacher moving to the rugged Canadian frontier, this series brings to mind Little House on the Prairie. Producer Michael Landon Jr. follows in his father's footsteps (Producer/Director of the 1980's sitcom) with this new series, always family oriented and a little gem in a otherwise blase world of cinematography.It is a relief to see such movies for any family and the charismatic relationships makes even adults look forward to see what happens next.That said, this episode surprised us as new actors were introduced to replace established characters and along with inaccuracy in details such as period costumes (few women wore such colours or even ventured outside without hat/head covering) and too many 'newcomers' to remember, this episode disappointed. The series might well soon fall in the 'deja vu' category.Still, I enjoyed the chemistry between our favourite Mountie and spunky teacher and I too cannot resist wondering what happens next in the series!4 Stars.From director Michael Landon Jr., son of the late television legend Michael Landon, who has been in the film business for over 25 years. With two of the highest rated films in the history of the Hallmark channel, and several top ten releases targeted to the Christian market, Michael has become known for creating heartfelt, inspiring films that connect to the family. He has developed and/or produced, directed, and written screenplays for Fox, CBS, NBC, Disney, Sony, Lifetime, and others.

About Word Entertainment:A leader in the music industry for over 60 years, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives.Disclaimer: I received a copy of this DVD from EDIFY/MEDIA as part of the movie's promotion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

01 June 2015

SYNOPSIS:(From AMAZON):When a young woman, Simone Burner (singer/songwriter, Brandy Allison), is accused of murdering the man who assaulted her, she seeks out the help of attorney Jack Evans (Erik Estrada) to prove her innocence. A ruthless and corrupt prosecutor engages her in a trial that brings the past she has longed to escape to the forefront of her defense. Virtuous will inspire and ignite you to live the principles of Proverbs 31 faith, integrity, wisdom and honor.MY THOUGHTS:Albeit Virtuous was initially recommended as starring Erik Estrada, it is Jessica Lynch's name which ultimately caught my daughter's attention. Personally, I always appreciate the opportunity to introduce new Christian movies in view of the doubtful choices offered by Hollywood myself.This latest DoveFoundationapproved film shows different women challenged by abuse under different circumstances, be it bodily or verbal and their triumph over adversity.We are reminded of the virtues listed under Proverbs 31, a true celebration of womanhood and an inspiration to all of us, young and old.Finally, whilst the acting was nothing exciting, I found the scenario interesting and the songs very pleasurable.Due to thematic contents, I would recommend it to older teens and family viewing. Check out the special features.Overall, I give it 4 stars.About JCFilms:

We produce family-friendly narrative films to assist Christ-centered, culturally-changing and well-established churches and non-profit organizations to spread their message through feature films.

Basically, we write, cast, and produce amazing films for astonishing ministries to help get their message out! There is a great need to engage this culture with films that deliver a message of eternal truth.

And the truth is this: movies with strong Christian viewpoints are gaining popularity. We just need more of them.

Not just films that entertain but, films that change lives! We believe there is an urgent need for top-quality, thought provoking and challenging films to help educate and attempt to preserve our culture.

Disclaimer:I received a copy of the DVD courtesy of EDIFY MEDIA Inc. as part of the series promotion.I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.